Duplex container



July 7, 1936. w. A. RINGLER 2,046,485

DUPLEX CONTAINER Filed Sept. 14, 1932 ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUPLEX CONTAINER William A. Ringler, Wayne,Pa., assignor to Carton Container Company, Philadelphia, Pa., acorporation of Delaware Application September 14, 1932, Serial No.633,179

6 Claims. (01. 229-27) In a co-pending application I have described andbroadly claimed a novel duplex container comprising a pair of open endedboxes with a side wall of each box interconnected by folds formingclosures for such open ends, and a wrapper is provided which maintainsthe container in assembled and sealed condition, the boxes being adaptedto be opened by the breaking of the wrapper.

In my present invention I have devised a novel construction andarrangement of a duplex container in which the wrapper may be dispensedwith and a different construction of box forming blanks and boxes areemployed.

An object therefore of this invention is to devise a novel duplexcontainer wherein two boxes and a cover common to both boxes is formedfrom a single blank of sheet material, the cover being provided with aweakened line whereby two separate but independent boxes or containersmay be formed, one of which may be folded on the other to form a unitarypackage, or as the articles in one box are used up it can be torn off sothat a single box will be left containing articles to be used.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter moreclearly appear, my invention comprehends a novel duplex container.

It further comprehends a novel construction of a blank adapted to formtwo separate boxes with a common cover and an intermediate partitionforming a closure for the open end of each box and also a breaking edgeon which the cover of the box can be broken to separate the containerinto two open ended interconnected boxes.

It further comprehends a novel duplex container having folds or flapsadapted to be glued together to form a duplex box with an open top and acommon cover for the two boxes, and with weakened lines to provide forthe breaking of the box into two separate boxes.

It further comprehends a novel duplex container comprising two openended interconnected boxes and a novel construction and arrangement of awrapper for the articles having at its free ends folds which overlapwhen the boxes are in closed position, and which when the container isopened form grasping portions to facilitate the removal of the articlesfrom their boxes.

The cover may be glued or otherwise secured to the two boxes and if thearticles are such that a duty has to be paid on them the revenue stampmay be used, if desired, to seal the cover to the box.

Other novel features of construction and ad-- vantage will hereinaftermore clearly appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention I have shown in theaccompanying drawing a typical embodiment of it, which, in practice,will give reliable and satisfactory results. It is, however, to beunderstood that this embodiment is typical only and. that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized, and the invention is not limited to the precisearrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein setforth.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a blank from which my novel duplexcontainer is formed.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the box' from which the duplexcontainer is formed, in its open position.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a wrapper for the articles, such as, forexample, the conventional combined tissue paper and tin foil which it iscustomary to use in wrapping cigarettes.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the duplex container in its closedcondition, showing more par ticularly the position the wrapper assumeswhen the boxes are closed and sealed.

Figure 5 is an end elevation showing the position the parts assume afterthe first step of breaking the box in two.

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the box in its open position and alsoshowing the manner in which cigarettes, or other articles, are withdrawnfrom the box to render them more readily accessible to the user.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing:-

In Figure 1, I have shown a blank I from which the box is formed. Thisblank is cut from a single sheet of sheet material, such as, forexample, paper, cardboard, or any other suitable material, dependingupon the character of goods which are to be packed within the duplexcontainer. The blank is provided with the weakened lines 2 and 3 whichcontribute to form the end folds 4, 5, 6, and l. I provide an offsetextension of the weakened line 2, as shown at 8, and also an offsetextension of the weakened line 3, as shown at 9. The weakened line 8contributes to form the tab ID, the end fold H, and. in a similar mannerthe weakened line 9 forms a tab l2, and an end fold l3.

It will be seen that the end folds 4 and 5, and the end folds 6 and lare not continuous but are cut out as indicated at M and I5,respectively, to form the tabs l6 and II, respectively, the cutcontinuing along the weakened line 3 as indicated in Figure 1. At thefree ends of the blank marginal weakened lines I8 and H! are providedwhich contribute to form the end folds 20 and 2|, respectively, the fold20 being provided with the side tabs 22 and 23, and in a similar manner,the end fold 2| is provided with the side tabs 24 and 25. I provide aweakened line 26 defining the center fold of the box, and a weakenedline 21 defining the center fold of the cover portion. 1 also providethe weakened lines 28, 29 and 30, which provide for forming a partition3| between the two boxes, having the bottom walls 32 and 33. The cover34 is provided with a weakened line 35 extending transversely across itand terminating in the notched out portions 36.

The blank is now formed into the box construction seen in Figure 2. Inorder to formthe box the sides forming the bottom members 32 and 33 arebrought together so that the partition. 3| is formed by the folds 31 and38. The tab I6 is then glued to the side 5, and the tab is secured byadhesive to the side fold I. The end fold 20 is then bent over and thetab 22 secured to the side fold 4, and the tab 23 to the side fold 6, itbeing of course understood that the side folds 4 and 5, and the sidefolds 6 and 1, have been folded upwardly into the position seen inFigure 2. The fold 39 formed by the weakened lines 26 and 21, is nowbent up and secured in position, the tab I0 being secured to the fold 5,and the tab l2 being secured to the fold I. In a similar manner, thefold 2| is bent up, and the tab 22 secured to the fold and the tab 23secured to the fold l3. The box is now completed with its cover.

If articles, such as, for example, tobacco in the form of cigarettes orcigars, are to be placed in the container, it is advisable to place alining or wrapper in the box, such as, for example, the liner 49, formedfrom sheet material, such as, for example, tissue and tin foil. Thisliner, if used, is provided with the weakened lines 4|, 42, and43, tofacilitate its embracing the partition 3|. The blank is also providedwith the weakened lines 44, 45, 46, 41, 48, and 49. The weakenedline 48contributes to form the overlapping flap 50 which forms a graspingportion, and, in a similar manner, the weakened line 49 contributes toform a flap 5|, which, when the box is closed overlaps the flap 50 andalso forms a grasping handle. This overlapping of these flaps serves asa protection for the weakened line 35 of the cover 34.

Assuming now that the cigarettes have been placed in the box with thewrapper inside the box, the cover is closed and, if desired, is glued orotherwise secured to the side walls of the box, the parts appearing asshown in Figure 4.

When the user desires to open the box he bends opposite portionsupwardly as shown in Figure 5, the tabs l6 and I! are torn in two, andthe perforated portions of the line 35, on the folds II and 3, isbroken. The user then bends the opposite sides of the box in theopposite direction thereby separating the cover along the weakened line35. The upper edgeof the partition 3| forms a breaking edge along whichthe cover is separated. This partition 3| has several differentfunctions. It serves as a partition or separation between the two-boxes.It also serves as a breaking edge for defining the location at which theduplex container is to be separated. It also serves as a hingeconnection so that the two boxes can be folded together, after beingopened, one upon the other. It also serves as an intermediatereinforcement when the container is closed to prevent bulging ordeformation at its central portion. It also serves as a closure for bothopen ended boxes when in an open or closed condition.

When it is desired to remove an article from a box, the articles can bebrought into a position readily accessible to the user, by raising thegrasping handle 50, or the grasping handle 5|.

It will be apparent that the duplex container, when in open position,comprises two open ended boxes interconnected by the partition 3| formedby the folds 31 and 38.

In my present construction I form two connected boxes and a cover from ablank of material, the cover being common to both boxes and formed fromthe same blank. When the boxes are separated the separation of the boxesforms the two open ended boxes instead of forming two open ended boxesby the separation of a wrapper, as in my copending application,aforesaid. It will now be apparent that I have devised a new and usefulduplex container which embodies the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable in the statement of the invention and the above description,and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described apreferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactoryand. reliable results, it is to be understood that this embodiment issusceptible of modification in various particulars without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. In a duplex-container, a double compartment box formed from a blankof material having a weakened line providing for the folding of the boxto form two opened top boxes with a double foldable partition betweenthem and with their side walls connected and a cover common to the twoboxes, said cover having a weakened line registering with said foldedpartition and extending across the top and side walls of the cover toprovide for the breaking of the boxes by the breaking of the cover andthe bending of the container in oppo sitedirections to form two openended boxes interconnected by said double wall partition.

2. A duplex container formed from a single blank of material havingweakened lines providing for the folding of the blank to formoverhanging end portions secured together with a double wall partitionforming two opened top boxes connected together at the sides and with acover common to the two boxes and secured to the side walls thereof,said cover having a weakened line extending across its top and sidewalls in registry with said partition when the cover is closed and saidcontainer having its side walls weakened in proximity to said doublepartition.

3. A duplex container, comprising a pair of open boxes having their sidewalls secured together and separated by a double wall partition integralwith the boxes and with a cover integral with a wall of the box, saidcover having a weakened line extending across its top and side walls inregistry with said partition and said container having its side wallsweakened in proximity to said double partition.

4. A duplex container formed from a single sheet of materialsubstantially rectangular and sides, and a-cover for said boxes securedto the.

side walls thereofisaid cover having a hinge connection with the rearwall of the rear box, a front wall secured to the irontwall of the frontbox and side walls secured to the side walls of the boxes and having aweakened line extending across its top and side walls in registry withsaid partition.

5. A duplex container having a double fold forming a partition betweenopposite sides, the opposite sides being secured together with the sideshaving weakened portions in proximity toboxes and having a weakened linein registry with said double fold when folded and extending across theside walls whereby when the container is bent in one direction the coverwill be severed and when bent in the opposite direction oppositeconnections between common sides o the box will be broken to form twoopen ended boxes connected only by said double fold.

6. A duplex container having two opened top boxes with a double foldpartition between the boxes and with the sides having weakened portionson which they are adapted to be broken in proximity to said partition,and a cover common to the two boxes and having a weakened line inregistry with said partition when folded and extending across the sidewalls of the cover.

WILLIAM A. RINGLER.

